Like many nightshades, some members of this genus contain toxic and medicinal alkaloids. The plants are known to be poisonous to domestic animals such as cats, dogs, and horses due to their brunfelsamidine content.[3] Toxicity in dogs manifests with strychnine-like gastrointestinal, neurological and cardiac symptoms.[4]

Brunfelsia is a genus of the tribe Petunieae, which also includes Petunia. This placement is supported by molecular data.[1]